A trial that would shame any democracy is now entering its fourth week in Diyarbakir, Turkey. Named the KCK trial, its processes have been widely condemned, on the grounds that the essentials for a fair trial are missing, by the several hundred independent observers who have attended its opening days starting on October 18th. November 12th is crunch day when the judge, at the 6th Criminal Assize Court, will decide whether to accept the defence team?s argument that there is no case to answer and release those detained, or to determine that the trial will continue, and the suspects remain in prison or are bailed. Charged with ?violating the unity of the State?, ?abetting terrorism?, and belonging to the KCK – alleged to be the urban arm of the PKK, are 151 Kurdish politicians, lawyers, mayors, and leaders of Kurdish civil society organisations. 103 of these suspects have already been in detention for the past 18 months, but the details of the charges and the grounds were not disclosed until 12 weeks ago. The manner of gathering evidence and the actual procedures in the courtroom breach all international and European standards on human rights and fair trials. The trial could last for months, even years. It is vital that those in prison are released on bail, and that the prosecutions are dropped for this is a ?political trial? not a legal one.

The trial of 151 Kurdish politicians, lawyers, mayors and leaders of Kurdish civil society is an affront to human rights

A trial that would shame any democracy is now in its fourth week in Diyarbakir, Turkey. Named the KCK trial, its processes have been widely condemned by the several hundred independent observers who attended during its first few days.

Charged with “violating the unity of the state” and “abetting terrorism” are 151 Kurdish politicians, lawyers, mayors and leaders of Kurdish civil society. Of these, 103 have already been in detention for the past 18 months, but details of the charges were not disclosed until 12 weeks ago.

The defence lawyers of the defendants of the KCK trial in Diyarbakır applied to the superior court for the right to a defence in the mother tongue. More than three weeks of the beginning of the trial, procedures have not yet advanced beyond the reading of the indictment.